Devonnsha Maxwell doesn’t even like the thought of being considered the “weak link” of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga defense.
As the Mocs enter their third week of preseason camp, he’s making the case that he definitely won’t be thought of in that manner.
The 6-foot-3, 290-pound redshirt freshman end has solidified a spot on the Mocs’ three-man defensive front alongside 2017 All-Southern Conference selections Isaiah Mack and Derek Mahaffey. It’s been Maxwell’s job to replace graduated seniors Taylor Reynolds, who had 64 tackles with 6 1/2 for lost yardage last season, and D.J. Prather.
The two current seniors have been able to show a wealth of knowledge from their combined eight prior years of experience in college football, doing what they can to show Maxwell the ropes.
“We’ve seen nothing but spectacular play from Devonnsha,” defensive line coach Davern Williams said. “For a young guy he’s been very consistent. I really think Mahaffey and Mack have rubbed off on him as far as the technique and effort that he puts in day to day, and it’s been great that he’s stepped into that role after the guys that left last year and played well.